Various examples relate to a concept for generating and using a preamble for transmissions in a point-to-multipoint network, such as a Passive Optical Network (PON). A preamble generation apparatus for generating a preamble for a communication over an optical network comprises circuitry that is configured to generate a first subsection of the preamble, the first subsection of the preamble comprising a repetitive signal pattern. The preamble generation apparatus is configured to generate a second subsection of the preamble subsequent to the first subsection, the second subsection comprising a pseudorandom signal sequence.

As compared to the conventional method, a non-blocking multicast switching system is provided in which the number of switches to be operated can be reduced and the path switching can be quick. A multicast switching system with an input stage, a middle stage, and an output stage, including a plurality of input switch elements of receiving/transmitting streams from input sources/to the middle stage, a plurality of middle switch elements of receiving/transmitting streams from the input switch elements/to the output stage, the plurality of middle switch elements being grouped into a plurality of groups and a plurality of output switch elements of receiving/outputting streams from the middle switch elements/to output destinations, wherein the input switch elements transmit the streams to each of the plurality of groups.

An apparatus is provided with: a storage part that stores a value corresponding to at least one type; a receiving part that receives a broadcast message which includes a condition representing the value corresponding to the type from a control apparatus via a network; a condition determination part that determines whether or not the value stored in the storage part satisfies the condition included in the broadcast message; a process execution part that executes a predetermined processing in a case where the value stored in the storage part satisfies the condition.

A method implemented by a middlebox comprising registering a customer premises equipment (CPE) in the middlebox, wherein the CPE is coupled to the middlebox via an electrical line, and facilitating registration of the CPE in a central office (CO) equipment coupled to the middlebox.

A caller ID based call routing feature. A processing system in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) receives first identifying information for identifying the source of a telephone call and associates additional information stored in a memory with the first identifying information. The additional information may then be transmitted to the subscriber via the Internet for display. Another feature is a branch calling feature where the subscriber may program a processing system within the PSTN to forward an incoming call to two or more end units (e.g., telephones) simultaneously. If the call at an end unit is answered, answer supervision signaling is transmitted back to the processing system which then terminates all other calls. The processing system then connects the calling party to the subscriber. The branch calling may be made for any combination of local, long distance, and cellular telephone numbers.

A method implemented by a middlebox comprising registering a customer premises equipment (CPE) in the middlebox, wherein the CPE is coupled to the middlebox via an electrical line, and facilitating registration of the CPE in a central office (CO) equipment coupled to the middlebox.

A method implemented by a middlebox comprising registering a customer premises equipment (CPE) in the middlebox, wherein the CPE is coupled to the middlebox via an electrical line, and facilitating registration of the CPE in a central office (CO) equipment coupled to the middlebox.

A CPON includes an OLT for transmitting a downstream signal to a plurality of remote ONUs. The downstream signal includes a first data subcarrier and a second subcarrier adjacent the first subcarrier, and a first communication subcarrier between the first and second subcarriers. The CPON further includes a first ONU having a first ONU receiver for receiving the first data subcarrier from the downstream optical signal within a first channel bandwidth, and a first ONU transmitter for transmitting a first upstream signal to the OLT within the first channel bandwidth. The CPON further includes a second ONU having a second ONU receiver for receiving the second data subcarrier from the downstream optical signal within a second channel bandwidth, and a second ONU transmitter for transmitting a second upstream signal to the OLT within the second channel bandwidth. The first communication subcarrier includes OAM management data and/or MAC layer control information.

Various examples relate to a concept for generating and using a preamble for transmissions in a point-to-multipoint network, such as a Passive Optical Network (PON). A preamble generation apparatus for generating a preamble for a communication over an optical network comprises circuitry that is configured to generate a first subsection of the preamble, the first subsection of the preamble comprising a repetitive signal pattern. The preamble generation apparatus is configured to generate a second subsection of the preamble subsequent to the first subsection, the second subsection comprising a pseudorandom signal sequence.